It's funny how it can take years to understand certain seemingly elementary concepts. Despite multiple people explaining them to us for years, the ideas don't click for whatever reason for a very long time. Then, for seemingly no reason at all, the idea suddenly makes sense in our minds and becomes crystal clear in a matter of minutes. This has happened to me twice in the last couple of weeks.
Concept #1 that finally solidified in my mind is the fact that jobs are really all about problem solving. That's the reason the job was created - to solve a problem/meet a need/fill a void. Therefore, we need to anticipate new challenges arising instead of backing away and letting them jar us. Again, this is probably common sense to you, but it finally dawned on me that I exist to be a problem solver - not a routine follower or a people pleaser or an order filler. Since that is true, I should no longer shrink with intimidation when a new challenge at the workplace presents itself. I should welcome the opportunity to exercise my creativity and face the task with confidence. I find that I sometimes shy away from problems, preferring that someone else drive the process of identifying solutions. However, we should anticipate problems and be grateful for an opportunity to step in and solve them.
Concept #2 that finally dawned on me is that I really do allow anxiety to build and make things WAY bigger in my head than they actually are. I dread things for days, weeks, sometimes even months; yet, 85% of the time, I am shocked at how well they turn out in the end. (Insert COUNTLESS examples of this from my life!) I let the worry fester in my mind until I am a nervous wreck well in advance of the circumstance that is likely NO BIG DEAL at all. I exist for days in a state of worried frenzy, terrified, stressed, and totally distracted from whatever is happening in the present. This is a tremendous waste of time and shows my lack of relying on faith when presented with a stressor. I have been told (thank you Mom, Dad, Amy, John) for years that I do this, but I finally, finally caught myself doing it and realized how counterproductive it is.
I am thankful to be continually learning and so glad that God finally solidified these concepts in my mind that other people have tried to help me grasp for years. Just wanted to share what I'm learning... thankful for these lightbulb moments and hoping that you have one (or two!) soon as well!
Concept #1 that finally solidified in my mind is the fact that jobs are really all about problem solving. That's the reason the job was created - to solve a problem/meet a need/fill a void. Therefore, we need to anticipate new challenges arising instead of backing away and letting them jar us. Again, this is probably common sense to you, but it finally dawned on me that I exist to be a problem solver - not a routine follower or a people pleaser or an order filler. Since that is true, I should no longer shrink with intimidation when a new challenge at the workplace presents itself. I should welcome the opportunity to exercise my creativity and face the task with confidence. I find that I sometimes shy away from problems, preferring that someone else drive the process of identifying solutions. However, we should anticipate problems and be grateful for an opportunity to step in and solve them.
Concept #2 that finally dawned on me is that I really do allow anxiety to build and make things WAY bigger in my head than they actually are. I dread things for days, weeks, sometimes even months; yet, 85% of the time, I am shocked at how well they turn out in the end. (Insert COUNTLESS examples of this from my life!) I let the worry fester in my mind until I am a nervous wreck well in advance of the circumstance that is likely NO BIG DEAL at all. I exist for days in a state of worried frenzy, terrified, stressed, and totally distracted from whatever is happening in the present. This is a tremendous waste of time and shows my lack of relying on faith when presented with a stressor. I have been told (thank you Mom, Dad, Amy, John) for years that I do this, but I finally, finally caught myself doing it and realized how counterproductive it is.
I am thankful to be continually learning and so glad that God finally solidified these concepts in my mind that other people have tried to help me grasp for years. Just wanted to share what I'm learning... thankful for these lightbulb moments and hoping that you have one (or two!) soon as well!
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